The Michael J Morris Report

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Chapleau General Hospital efficient, amenable and embraces full potential of beautiful site, according to professor of architecture

At the annual meeting of the Lady Minto Hospital in 1974, the major point of interest was the progress being made on the provision of a new hospital for Chapleau.

Harry Pellow, who was the lead architect on the project, and a Chapleau native, was at the meeting with Peter Manson-Smith of Searle Wilbee Rowlands, architects, to go over the plans in detail, and answer questions.

Although final approval had not been given by the Ministry of Health for the new hospital, Harry reported that plans had been submitted to the ministry for approval.

Harry Pellow at CHS Reunion 2012

Maggie Costello reported that the new hospital project had been "an uphill fight since the beginning" but progress was being made. Construction costs had been rising because of inflation and while the building fund had shown growth, it had not kept pace with the escalating cost of construction.

Back in 1968, hospital administrator Leo Walzak had told the board that a new hospital was needed to replace the Lady Minto Hospital which was opened on April 18, 1914, and was described as "a splendid institution" in a Chapleau Headlight editorial. At that time it was the only hospital between Sudbury and Fort William, now Thunder Bay.

As the hospital board moved forward with its plans for a new hospital, Ian Macdonald, now professor emeritus and former head of the department of architecture at the University of Manitoba, wrote in a monograph, Mile 615.1: Building a Northern Community that the location of the new hospital would be on former farmland donated by the Broomhead family.

Ian, who attended Chapleau Public and Chapleau High schools, noted that the well drained gently sloping site provided excellent soil conditions for construction and generous space to accommodate an accessible single storey health care facility.

At the 1975 Lady Minto Hospital annual meeting there was an atmosphere of "mission accomplished" as board chair J.B. Walsh reported that Gennan Construction had done initial site preparation before snow came and had been stockpiling materials there ever since.

It was hoped that the new hospital would be completed by 1976, and it was as the Chapleau General Hospital replaced the venerable Lady Minto Hospital which had served the community so well.

At the 1975 annual meeting, Alcide Small, superintendent of the CPR Schreiber division, and a Chapleau native attended to present quit claim deed on four remaining lots at the site of the Lady Minto Hospital.

Alcide explained that two of the lots were deeded by the CPR to the Lady Minto Hospital on November 24, 1913 for the sum of $1.00 and on January 6, 1926 two further lots were deeded to the hospital with the proviso that they would revert to the CPR if they ceased to be used for hospital purposes.

Also, CPR had included a covenant that the land owners could not sell liquor. This was common in those days.

Con Schmidt had initiated negotiations with the CPR to get clear title to all the property on which the old hospital stood. This was important as the lots could be sold and revenue derived added to the building fund.

Commenting on the Chapleau General Hospital more than 30 years after it was opened, Ian Macdonald said that it was "... both efficient and amenable and embraces the full potential of a beautiful site. ... the building remains an exemplary example of quality health care facility."

Harry was also the architect for the Chapleau Civic Centre, Cedar Grove Lodge, Chapleau Recreation Centre and the golf clubhouse as well as Trinity United Church renewal.

In March 1998 the Bignucolo Residence, a 25-bed long term care facility was opened, and the Chapleau Medical Centre is also on the hospital site.

It seemed somehow appropriate to do a column on the Chapleau General Hospital with the arrival of Dr. Doris Mitchell, Dr. Kendra Saari and Dr. Stephen Saari in the community, although they are really coming home.

I was so delighted to chat with "Dr. Doris' at the Chapleau High School Reunion, and thanks Doris for your kind words. I have also heard from Kendra with news about the move she and Stephen have made to Chapleau. Thanks to you too Kendra. I appreciate the commitment you have made to complete your studies in medicine, and Chapleau will be so well served by each of you. Congratulations Dr. Doris, Dr. Kendra and Dr. Stephen, and all the best!

Thanks to Harry Pellow and Ian Macdonald for research assistance. Ian's monograph is in Chapleau retrospective on Life in an Isolated Northern Community by Bill McLeod. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Walter and Kay Broomhead launch first Chapleau arts and crafts fall fair with blaze of brilliant colour provided by displays in 1973

Walter Broomhead, Leon Mangoff, Kay Broomhead

In the beginning Walter Broomhead attended a Chapleau Chamber of Commerce meeting in March 1973, and proposed that a two-day Arts and Crafts Fall Fair be held in the Centennial Museum building.

Staunchly supported by his wife Kathleen (Kay), the first arts and crafts fall fair was launched in October 1973, and they have become an integral part of Chapleau life ever since.

CBC Radio personality Leon Mangoff, assisted by Mr. and Mrs. Broomhead officially opened the fair which according to Maggie Costello in the Sault Star, "Everything, just everything, conferred a blessing", even the weather on Chapleau, for the weekend.

"Well over 2,000 people, many of them visitors including a couple all the way from Holland, were all over the building, inspecting some 1,000, possibly even more articles on display and for sale."

Maggie noted that among the displays were "lovely hand embroidered linens, afghans of endless colour and design, paintings in oils and water colour and other media, jewelry, wearables of all kinds for children and adults, novelties for home decorations, hand painted hasty notes pottery and much, much more."

On the lower floor there were displays of family heirlooms as well as hand made quilts and crocheted table covers of intricate design as well as other displays.

Designed by Mr. and Mrs. Broomhead to create community interest, it did not fail, with Maggie writing, "Community interest was all over the place along with a blaze of brilliant colour provided by the displays. It seemed that everyone was in on the act."

At the official opening, Mr. Broomhead welcomed everyone, explained the purpose of the fair, adding he felt it had served its purpose. He paid special tribute to the loyal and hard working committees and hostesses.

Reeve Terry Way-White extended a welcome on behalf of the municipality and offered congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Broomhead and their committees who had produced an outstanding event.

As a sidebar to the official fall fair, Maggie shared one of the "highlights and sidelights" which was dinner at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Broomhead.

Maggie, along with Bud and Tom Welch, owners of the Chapleau Sentinel, and Leon Mangoff and his producer Bob Burt "gathered around the festive board" for a feast.

"As a special treat for the southern guests Kay dished up moose meat and northern goose with all the trimmings with turkey for those who may not like game. We all tied into it with gusto and the southerners really went to town."

Bob and Leon attended the annual Hunters Ball at the Royal Canadian Legion hall, then on Saturday attended the fair as well as going on a tour of Chapleau, a flight with Tony Buchan over the area, and before leaving on Sunday had an early breakfast at the home of Ed McCarthy.

In commenting on the fair, Leon described Chapleau as his "favourite" northern town and felt the fair was a great event. He said that Chapleau was fortunate to have citizens like Mr. and Mrs. Broomhead to give something new to the town and engender so much community participation.

All these years later, truer words were never spoken. It has been an amazing success story for Chapleau.

Fast forward to 2012. Chatting with Phyllis Mcleod, the president of the committee, she told me that this year's fair, scheduled for October 12 and 13 at the Chapleau Recreation Centre, promises to be the biggest ever. All spaces are sold out with artisans coming from far beyond Chapleau to participate. The fair runs from four to nine p.m. on Friday and from 11 a.m. to three p.m. on Saturday. It will be followed by a dinner and dance. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Flame Lake Lodge a place to fish, hunt, hike, relax near Chapleau

The folks at Flame Lake Lodge kindly agreed to make some of their outstanding photos available for me to share with visitors to Michael J Morris Reports. Much appreciated!

Flame Lake Lodge is operated by Maureen (Moore) Pedersen, her son Gary and his wife, Karen..

Maureen is the daughter of the late Mrs. A.W. "Hockey" Moore, a member of one of Chapleau's first families, and one of the community's most popular citizens.